692,100: Number of children in Illinois who do not have consistent access to enough food needed for a healthy, active life.

18,420: Number of children in Winneb...

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692,100: Number of children in Illinois who do not have consistent access to enough food needed for a healthy, active life.

18,420: Number of children in Winnebago County who do not have consistent access to enough food needed for a healthy, active life.

3,540: Number of children in Boone County who do not have consistent access to enough food needed for a healthy, active life.

Source: Map the Meal Gap, a 2011 studyHow to helpYou've seen the statistics, so you know: Tens of thousands of our fellow residents of the Rock River Valley don't know where they're going to get their next meal. Here's your chance to help them.

The Rockford Register Star, in partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, will collect donations of food from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday of this week at the News Tower. Items will be distributed to the needy through a network of local food pantries and feeding programs served by the food bank in the Rock River Valley.

ROCKFORD — One in four children in Winnebago County do not know where they will get their next meal, according to a 2011 study conducted by Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

In Boone County, it's one in five.

And unlike an adult who struggles to find enough to eat, a child can't earn a paycheck to pay for groceries or drive to a food pantry.

Children's survival depends on their caregivers.

"There have been times when it gets a little stressful. I wish I had a (higher-paying) job," said Erica Harvey, mother of 8-year-old Gage and 4-year-old Dean.

She never had to worry about feeding her two boys until she lost her job last year as a teacher aide at a day care center.

Harvey ended up taking a lower-paying job at Burger King to pay the bills. When that wasn't enough, she turned to food-stamp cards for financial help.

"They said I made too much, $1.26 too much," she said.

Food pantries and family support were the only viable options left to put food on the table.

Almost 22,000 children in the Rock River Valley do not have consistent access to enough food to ensure they can live healthy, active lives, according to the Feeding America study.

Malnourished children tend to have behavioral problems and suffer from anxiety and do not get along with other kids, said Amy Ozier, an associate professor in the school of health and nutrition sciences at Northern Illinois University and a registered dietitian. They also have trouble concentrating in school.

Community members are confused by what she called the "hunger-obesity" paradox in children, wrongly believing that obesity indicates that a child is being well-fed. In reality, some kids come from families whose finances are so tight that they can purchase only the most inexpensive ingredients, which often are the least healthy.

"When you talk about hunger, you think of perhaps children in Africa. Here in the U.S., the family will buy what's cheapest. What's cheapest is not the most nutrient dense," Ozier said.

Social services agencies here have stepped up to address hunger in children.

Families with children in the Belvidere School District can visit the Community Cupboard, 1320 East Ave., in Belvidere, once every four weeks to obtain canned goods, personal care products, baby items and cleaning supplies. It was the first school-based food pantry in the state and currently serves 200 families every four weeks.

Community Cupboard Director Shannon Hansen said there's a misconception that people who use the pantry are unemployed. Many visitors are people like the Harveys who just need a little help obtaining more costly staples such as milk or peanut butter.

Page 2 of 2 - "A lot of people have the misconception that people who come through the pantry are unemployed, and that's not the case," Hansen said.

It may be because they "lost a job that they've been at for 20 years and are taking a lower-paying job. It only takes one big medical bill to hinder a family."

Children who do not have a parent looking out for their nutritional needs can turn to agencies like Rock House Kids, 1325 Seventh St., in Rockford, for help. The nonprofit, which helps 230 children each week, gives kids ages 4 to 18 food each time they step through its doors. Parent permission isn't required.

Dola Gregory, the organization's executive director, said it's easy to spot children who are new to the place.

They protect their meals with their arms, often shoveling food into their mouth with their hands instead of using silverware. They eat second and third helpings.

"These are kids who are on their own. They have fallen through every crack on their way here. We're the last stop," Gregory said.

Each child is given two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks and two juices to take home. The items are kid friendly so the children won't have to rely on an adult to prepare them.

Children are given plastic fruit cups, for instance, instead of metal fruit cups. That way they can open the package without cutting themselves.

Nonperishable items like nutrition bars, dry cereal, fruit roll-ups and chips are handed out in case children do not have access to a refrigerator, can opener or microwave.

"We make sure children are taken care of. We're the stable force in their life," Gregory said.